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Omaha Steve

(98,872 posts)
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 10:24 AM Sep 2014

This man with Dementia's best friend Rose was someone else's best friend first


http://alzheimers.greatergood.com/clickToGive/alz/story/sweet-rose505





A few years ago my husband was diagnosed with Dementia. As he entered the late stages, it became difficult for me to keep up with him while he was working outside. I felt that we needed a dog to watch over him. During my daily prayer, I asked for a dog to be sent to him, one that would love him enough to become his guardian when I was not able to be there.

In about 2 weeks this stray dog entered our yard. I managed to contact her owner. He came and took her home but she was back the next morning. This became an everyday occurrence. But while here, she never left my husband’s side, staying close to him but never in his way. One day I found my husband on the road, the dog walking beside him. I watched in amazement as she led him safely home.

The owner noticed how she was getting attached to my husband. He said some dogs’ sense disabilities like this and he asked me to keep her so she could continue watching over him. He had named her Rose. I did keep her and was so proud to have her. I thought back to our granddaughter Haley Rose, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 17.

I believe my prayer was answered at the time this man, about 2 years prior, got this puppy at the shelter and named her Rose. This sweet loving dog had been sent here to watch over my husband and she did her job well. Even though my husband is now in a healthcare center, our precious Rose is still here; now watching over me. She was sent on a mission to rescue me and I will be forever grateful. She has captured the hearts of all our family members and she will be well cared for and loved the rest of her life.

Shirley D
Lebanon, MO
36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
This man with Dementia's best friend Rose was someone else's best friend first (Original Post) Omaha Steve Sep 2014 OP
k/r n/t phylny Sep 2014 #1
Rose looks like my foster dog of roody Sep 2014 #2
Beautiful PumpkinAle Sep 2014 #3
Nice. Thanks for posting this. MineralMan Sep 2014 #4
That was beautiful...Thanks all american girl Sep 2014 #5
What a sweet dog. n/t Tom_Foolery Sep 2014 #6
There are angels Tansy_Gold Sep 2014 #7
That's a beautiful story lavenderdiva Sep 2014 #8
What a beautiful story! Coventina Sep 2014 #9
Dogs are amazing animals world wide wally Sep 2014 #10
Your story gave me chills. Thirties Child Sep 2014 #11
what a wonderful story.... magical thyme Sep 2014 #12
This message was self-deleted by its author tjl148 Sep 2014 #14
there are no coincidences, my friend. this was done for them and by their loved roguevalley Sep 2014 #13
Wonderful! tjl148 Sep 2014 #15
What a sweet story...and what a precious fur baby!!!! She onecent Sep 2014 #16
Thank you Shirley D. for sharing your beautiful story. joanbarnes Sep 2014 #17
That's why people love their pets BrotherIvan Sep 2014 #18
Wow! Kicked and recommended! Enthusiast Sep 2014 #19
Isn't it amazing how powerful the vibrations of our thoughts are? And so amazing too that Rose's DesertDiamond Sep 2014 #20
... littlemissmartypants Sep 2014 #30
She's so beautiful. Ilsa Sep 2014 #21
IT'S TOO BAD PEOPLE CAN'T BE MORE LIKE OUR PET DOGS...... zwyziec Sep 2014 #22
this made me cry lunatica Sep 2014 #23
KnR. nt tblue37 Sep 2014 #24
Wow! Just Wow! Dem_in_Nebr. Sep 2014 #25
I had a sign that said: tjl148 Sep 2014 #26
I strive to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am Skittles Sep 2014 #32
Good one. nt tjl148 Sep 2014 #36
A kick for this beautiful story...Thanks, my dear Omaha Steve. CaliforniaPeggy Sep 2014 #27
Ditto. eom littlemissmartypants Sep 2014 #31
This is beautiful enigmatic Sep 2014 #28
A most wonderful story. brer cat Sep 2014 #29
What a beautiful story marym625 Sep 2014 #33
This story just made cry a little bit.....so sad, yet so heartwarming..... a kennedy Sep 2014 #34
'brought tears to my eyes.. Dogs are truly the most wonderful creatures. hlthe2b Sep 2014 #35

Coventina

(26,808 posts)
9. What a beautiful story!
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 12:09 PM
Sep 2014

An incredibly generous gift, to give up one's dog like that.
He must have seen that it was meant to be and he had played his part.

Wow!

Response to magical thyme (Reply #12)

roguevalley

(40,656 posts)
13. there are no coincidences, my friend. this was done for them and by their loved
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 12:40 PM
Sep 2014

ones on the other side. dogs are angels. this one is. I wish I could hug this baby.

I lost my dachshunds one by one over three years. they were eighteen and abouts. I didn't want another dog but you don't seem to get a choice. I got a rescue Chihuahua given to me whose owner died of cancer. he is the best little dog, so loving and has so many familiar ways I think it must by my Andrew.

tjl148

(185 posts)
15. Wonderful!
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 12:44 PM
Sep 2014

Just so many nice and good things in this. Thanks for sharing. With all that is going on in the world we need more post like this.

onecent

(6,096 posts)
16. What a sweet story...and what a precious fur baby!!!! She
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 01:07 PM
Sep 2014

looks so content in her doggy picture...like she is saying I have found someone to love and someone who needs me and I love him back. Precious face!!

DesertDiamond

(1,616 posts)
20. Isn't it amazing how powerful the vibrations of our thoughts are? And so amazing too that Rose's
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 01:56 PM
Sep 2014

first best friend saw that Rose needed to be with your husband. What good fortune you have created!

Dem_in_Nebr.

(299 posts)
25. Wow! Just Wow!
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 03:36 PM
Sep 2014

Or maybe that should be ...

Bowwow! Just Bowwow!

Anyway, proud to live in your city, Omaha Steve!

marym625

(17,997 posts)
33. What a beautiful story
Tue Sep 2, 2014, 07:20 AM
Sep 2014

There is no doubt that dogs have a sense when someone needs help and/or protection.

We had a dog that we used to say, "was a great watch dog. She would lick a burglar to death." But when my grandmother, who was 97 at the time and just diagnosed with 4th stage lymphoma, moved in, our dog changed. She was constantly by my grandmother's side and everyone entering the house was sized up.

When the priest came to give my grandmother the last rights, Midnight, our dog, got between the priest and my grandmother. For the first time ever, besides the mailman, Midnight growled at someone. I had to hold her back from the priest. It was as if she knew what was going on and was trying to stop it.

Thank you for sharing this story.

a kennedy

(29,406 posts)
34. This story just made cry a little bit.....so sad, yet so heartwarming.....
Tue Sep 2, 2014, 08:26 AM
Sep 2014

isn't that funny how dogs can sense things. Just loved this, thank you for posting.

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